2012 A*STAR-MINDEF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Joint Funding Programme Call for Proposals

1.    The Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Defence Research and Technolgy Office (DRTech) for Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announce the 2012 call for joint proposals to jointly fund science and technology research collaborations with the objective of developing new dual-use applications and technologies for the civilian and defence sector. The following three themes have been selected:

a.       Photonics - this research area addresses requirements from industries such as precision engineering and aerospace. Of particular interest are Fiber Lasers that are more compact, more efficient, have better beam quality and are more reliable than solid-state lasers. There is a growing trend of kW-level fiber lasers being manufactured for industrial usage such as in cutting where the beam could be focused to a small spot size. One aim is to harness component technologies for potential applications in High-Energy Lasers.
 
b.      Ruggedized Electronics - this research area addresses requirements from industries such as aerospace and marine in which harsh operating conditions involving high temperature and high pressure are typically imposed. Of particular interest is the application of ruggedized electronics in sensors, memory, electronic circuits and systems and packaging technology. Reliable military electronic systems have to be suitably packaged and ruggedized to suit the wide varying operating environments encountered by the military systems. Reliability of electronics are enhanced by ruggedization techniques or solutions that will preserve the electronic or optical performance even in severe thermal or environmental conditions with stringent constraints of volume and weight.
 
c.       Advanced Sensors - the focus area in this field will be on advanced concepts and techniques for sensors to adapt to the environment; and to improve detection, achieve high resolution, reduce measurement errors, enhance tracking, classification and recognition performance. Current sensors’ effectiveness is challenged by line-of-sight and space available for deployment, interference and complexity in the environment.
 
Eligibility
 
2.    Researchers from A*STAR Research Institutes (RIs) and DSO are eligible to apply for the Joint Funding. Kindly refer to the Rules and Regulations governing the application for A*STAR-MINDEF Joint Funding Programme (sent in a separate Attachment)
 
Application
 
3.    Applications will open on 18 Jun 2012 and all submissions are due on 13 Aug 2012, 5pm.

4.    Please download the complete set of information and forms for your proposal submission:
    i) JFC_Rules&Regulations 2012.pdf
    ii) JFC_ApplicationForm 2012.doc
    iii) JFC_BudgetProposal 2012.xls
    iv) JFC_CapabilityIndicators 2012.xls

5.    IMPT:  Co-PIs from A*STAR and DSO should meet up first to discuss ideas. The co-PIs will thereafter approach A*STAR and MINDEF Coordinators to affirm their interest in the idea(s) before submitting any proposal(s) via A*STAR's designated channel.

6.    The submission must comprise the endorsed original hardcopy application and its soft copy. Applications only need to submit documents as in 4 (ii), (iii) and (iv) to SERC, A*STAR.

7.    To facilitate collaborations, the list of A*STAR and MINDEF POCs for the 3 specific themes is provided in attachment 4 (i).
 
Funding
 
8.    A Joint Selection Panel from A*STAR and DRTech will be convened to select and approve proposals for award. Successful projects will be jointly funded by A*STAR and MINDEF for up to 3 years.
 
Closing Date
 
9.    The closing date for application is 13 Aug 2012, 5pm. All applications received after this date will be rejected.
 
Others
 
10.    Queries on the A*STAR-MINDEF Joint Funding Programme should be addressed to the following:

A*STAR
Mr Tan Hwee Feng
tan_hwee_feng@a-star.edu.sg
68266137

MINDEF
Mr Tan Meng Yeow
Tan_Meng_Yeow@mindef.gov.sg
63081314

Status
 
11.    Status of Grant Call:

S/No.	Tasks	Deadlines	Status
1.	Submission of proposals -Softcopy -Hardcopy	6 Aug 2012 13 Aug 2012, 5pm	Open
2.	Selection & award of proposals	TBA	TBA